Creating a Gradebook in Desire2Learn

Participants will learn how to set up and use Desire2Learn's gradebook feature. This workshop is designed to help novice Desire2Learn users learn the basics of a points-based or weighted grading system. Specifically, participants will learn how to:

Create Categories and Grade Items.

Drop the lowest score within a category.

Create Bonus items (extra credit).

Enter grades and comments.

View, export, and print grades.

Faculty are encouraged to bring their syllabus grade scheme as practice time is built into the session. In addition, participants are expected to easily navigate within Desire2Learn without facilitator assistance.

Reflection Writing as a Learning Tool

This session will include the academic literature on reflection writing, samples of reflection assignments some faculty use, a question-and-answer period, and time for participants to write their own reflection on what they learned from the session. Instructors can help make the learning process transparent for their students by written reflections about completed assignments.

Desire2Learn Discussion Forums

One of the biggest changes that occurred with the new version of D2L is that discussion forums have changed significantly. In this workshop we will highlight the changes, discuss how to provide students with a meaningful discussion experience and outline the workshop grading tools.

Tips for Constructing a Successful Group Project

Students often complain when they hear the words "Group Project." However, when administered correctly, group projects can enhance student learning experiences. This session will help instructors assign well-organized group projects that guarantee all students will participate and earn an individual grade for their effort.

Tips for Conducting Successful Group Discussions

Thoughtful planning for class discussion can give an instructor valuable information about students while engaging them in meaningful dialogue with their peers. Attend this workshop to learn effective strategies for leading class discussions. In addition, participants will leave with helpful tips on how to encourage students to actively lead classroom conversations.

Best Practices for Utilizing D2L in Your Face-to-Face Classes

Even if you don’t teach online, you can extend student learning with online tools and activities in your D2L course site. Attend this workshop to learn the best practices for using the gradebook, content items, quizzes and other D2L features to supplement instruction in your face-to-face classes.

Participants are encouraged to bring examples of how they use D2L in their own courses, or just come and get some ideas on how you might incorporate an online resource into your class.

Desire2Learn Online Quizzes

In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to create computer administered and graded quizzes within Desire2Learn. The basics of online testing, question construction, as well as feedback options, security features, and random question selection will be addressed. Experience using Desire2Learn is required. Participants are expected to easily navigate within Desire2Learn without facilitator assistance.

Ask Questions Using TurningPoint™ Clickers in the Classroom

In this interactive session, the facilitator will introduce the use of TurningPoint™ Clickers, which allow instructors to ask questions and provide feedback using remote control response devices ("clickers"). Participants will learn how to integrate "clicker" questions into a PowerPoint or other type of presentations. This workshop is appropriate for intermediate to advanced technology users.

Desire2Learn Advanced Quiz Grading and Analysis

How did students do on your last online quiz? Did the questions function as intended? Once you have these answers, how can you make corrections quickly and easily? Come to this session to get these questions answered along with helpful tips and suggestions on quiz grading. Please note: To fully participate in this workshop, you will need a completed D2L online quiz in one of your current or past classes.

A Life Without: The Role of Poverty in Student Success and Failure

Using a discussion format, this session will explore how poverty impacts success and failure among our students. The discussion will start with an understanding of the impact poverty has on child development and build toward its effects on elementary school, middle school, and finally, high school learning. We will share and explore some of the other effects of poverty that shape our students’ behaviors, habits, and attitudes, such as abuse, homelessness, food scarcity, violence, and neglect. Through this discussion, participants will gain an understanding of our most challenging and, oppositely, often our most rewarding students by learning more about their very different experiences and struggles.

Basic Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks

Formatting and entering text using MS Word can be a frustrating and downright maddening experience. In this session, we will explore how to use the current version of MS Word efficiently and effectively. We will also explore some of the common problems that MS Word users encounter and discuss how to troubleshoot these problems. This workshop is appropriate for beginning to advanced MS Word users.

Webinar: PowerPoint Design Principles

Are you struggling to hold your students’ attention in class? Would you like more effective and engaging visuals? If you answered "yes," to these questions, this session is for you! In this webinar, participants will learn how to find and edit copyright-free photos, and use color and balance to improve the slides used in their courses. Please note: Registrants will receive a link to the webinar through LCC email the day before the session.

Poetry in Motion: How to Use a Poem as a Learning Strategy

Think poetry is just used in an English class? Think again! Come to this session to explore new ways to have your students interact with content from the textbook, your lectures, or labs. Please note: You do not have to love poetry or be a poetry expert to use this strategy with your students!

Tracking and Reporting Student Success Using Desire2Learn Reports and Analytics

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to view student data in their Desire2Learn courses as well as how to connect and gain access to the Insights Portal for dynamic reports, such as grade heat maps and quiz statistics. Topics will include:

Viewing grades and last accessed date for dropped students.

Accessing the User Progress Reports.

Viewing statistics for Content, Quizzes, Discussions, and Surveys.

Using the Insights Portal to generate reports from a course.

Discovering how others in the workshop use the reporting tools to further instruction.

Experience using Desire2Learn is required. Participants are expected to easily navigate within Desire2Learn without facilitator assistance.

Designing Visually Appealing Content in Desire2Learn

Come to this hands-on session to learn about the tools in Desire2Learn's HTML editor, and to acquire tips for designing content that is visually appealing to students. HTML knowledge is not required because most of the functions look and perform like Microsoft Word tools. Features include the ability to:

Paste directly from Microsoft Word into the HTML editor.

Insert images, equations, and dividers within course content.

Link to other content in the course.

Embed YouTube videos within content.

Keep the design layout between items consistent by copying from an existing file.

This workshop will be paced for the intermediate to advanced user; however, anyone interested in learning more about this feature is welcome. Training and/or experience using Desire2Learn is required.

A Showcase of Online Classes

Are you using D2L as part of your class and looking for new ideas? Are you considering teaching online, but wondering what an online course looks like? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then this session may be of interest to you! Several experienced faculty members will demonstrate how their D2L course sites are structured, along with their favorite tips on using D2L.

Developing Rubrics in Desire2Learn

Desire2Learn offers grading rubrics to assist in the evaluation of manually graded assignments such as essay questions and drop box submissions. Rubrics simplify the process of grading and assure that students are evaluated against the same criteria. In addition, students can view the criteria against which their assignment will be evaluated. In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to create and use grading rubrics in their Desire2Learn course sites. Experience using Desire2Learn is required. Participants are expected to navigate within Desire2Learn without facilitator assistance.

A Circle of Objects: Using Objects to Create Meaningful Discussion

In this session, participants will learn how to integrate the "Circle of Objects" activity to help create meaningful discussions in their courses. The idea behind this method is to get students to connect their backgrounds to the class and the subject matter they are learning. Participants are encouraged to bring an object that reflects something significant from their ancestry, cultural heritage, or class/economic background. Participants will present and explain their objects to the group to learn from one another. This session will end with participants brainstorming ways in which they can incorporate the Circle of Objects activity in their courses.

They Said What? How to Handle Critical Student Evaluations

Reading negative student evaluations can be troublesome and upsetting, even for experienced teachers. In this lighthearted workshop, participants will hear a collection of actual student reviews and discuss how to separate out hurtful statements from constructive criticism.